Hedge funds continued to sputter in June, closing out the first half of the year far behind the broader markets, according to Hedge Fund Research.

The HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index added 1.31% last month to end the first half up 3.2%. By contrast, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is up more than 6% on the year.

A handful of strategies tracked by the HFRI suite were able to top that. India-focused funds have soared 33.36% this year (5.49% in June), and energy and basic materials funds are up 11.36% (3.81%). Yield alternatives funds returned 9.72% in the first half (1.96% in June) and Middle East and North Africa funds 7.24% (down 0.34% in June).

Several strategies ended the first half in the red. Short-bias funds were predictably hurt by the continuing surge in stock prices, falling 3.68% through June (down 1.64% in June itself). Currency funds swung to a loss last month, dropping 0.89% to end the first half down 0.81%. Hedge funds focused on Russian and Eastern Europe and Japan also suffered, with the former dropping 1.4% (up 2.9% in June) and the latter 0.89% (up 3% in June).

Editor's Note

In our new section, FINtech Focus, we will profile one of these firms each week. While fintech is a broad category, we will be focusing on firms that specifically cater to the alternative investment industry. Read more…